Brentford announce Willmott Dixon as stadium developer

Brentford Football Club have selected their preferred developer to build a stadium, housing complex and hotel near Kew Bridge.

Planning permission was granted by Hounslow Council in December for a 20,000-capacity stadium at Lionel Road South, which will see the League One club move from their existing ground at Griffin Park.

Willmott Dixon, one of the UK’s largest construction and regeneration companies, will be development partner for the project, which will cost £71m in total.

Chris Gammon, co-director of Lionel Road Developments, said: “Soon after submitting our planning application in May 2013 we began the process of identifying a partner to work on this exciting and challenging scheme.

“We have had a high level of interest and it has been a difficult job narrowing it down to one company to enter into detailed negotiations on a development agreement.

“All the short-listed bidders showed considerable understanding of the challenges and put a great deal of work into areas such as architectural design.”

Permission was granted for the stadium, while outline permission for residential blocks, which could include three tower blocks of up to 17-storeys and 910 flats, was approved by the council last month.

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Sale of outline planning permission for the residential development will provide the funds to pay for the stadium.

Mr Gammon said: “Hounslow Council officers have been focused on the deliverability of our scheme and we believe that the club and Willmott Dixon have in place a sound commercial model and sensitive design approach which will do a great deal to meet the concerns of local residents.”

The plans now must go through Eric Pickles and Boris Johnson due to an objection from English Heritage and as the project is of strategic importance.

There were a number of objections to the plans including Richmond Council and nearby residents’ associations, who thought the tower blocks would encroach on views from Kew Gardens.

Andrew Telfer, divisional chief executive at Willmott Dixon Regen, said the company was delighted to be chosen and the new homes would benefit the community.

He said: “Alongside a new purpose-built home for the club, these proposals will provide facilities to benefit the wider community, attract further inward investment to create business and job opportunities and enhance the area as an attractive place to live.

“We have a proven track-record of taking forward similar high-quality developments in Tower Hamlets, Greenwich and Westminster that utilise our skill-sets for delivering substantial residential accommodation within a wider a regeneration, and look forward to working with Brentford FC to create a bright new future for the club and this part of Hounslow.”

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